Mt Jo Long Trail Project Enters Year Two

June 14, 2022

Professional and volunteer trail crews organized by ADK are returning to Mt Jo this summer to continue building a new sustainable trail to the summit.

Serving over 15,000 hikers a year, Mt. Jo is an iconic mountain in North Elba that is often visited by first-time outdoor recreators and used as a classroom for ADK’s fourth grade school outreach program. After assessment, it was determined in 2020 that one of the two approaches to the summit—the Long Trail—had exceeded standards for sustainability and safety.

In response, ADK determined a new route, rallied support from donors and volunteers, and broke ground on the trail in 2021. Last November, the Town of North Elba backed the project by awarding ADK a $50,000 grant from the Local Enhancement & Advancement Fund (LEAF) to improve accessibility on the trail.

Thanks to this funding and support from donors, ADK enters the 2022 season on track to maintain the project’s completion target of fall 2023. Work this year will focus on hardening the lower half of the new trail using sustainable trail features and establishing the trail on the upper portion.

“We are excited to begin the season with so much support from the North Elba and ADK communities,” said Charlotte Staats, ADK Trails Manager. “Once completed, the new Long Trail will be a model for safe, sustainable trail design that is accessible to community members and visitors alike.”